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"Vents de Sable – Femmes de Roc (Winds of Sand – Women of Rock)", by Nathalie Borgers and Diana Elbaum

Screened on 2 December 2009

Runtime: 93'

For the Tubu people, living in the Sahara desert is both harsh and very simple. The men are camel breeders, the women are tied to the home. For anything a woman wants to do, she needs her husband's permission. For the women, this condition would be unbearable if it wasn't for the annual caravan that takes them on a 1,500 kilometre journey on foot across the desert to collect dates. Even if the conditions are extreme, selling their date harvest brings them economic independence, pride and self confidence. Domagali, Amina and Mariama are three women whose destinies draw us into their world. Conflicts between tradition and modernity, between individual freedom and clan solidarity punctuate their stories.

The film was followed by a Q&A session with producer and director Nathalie Borgers and Diana Elbaum.

The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.